1 Samuel 15 23

1 Samuel 15:23 kjv

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:23 nkjv

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

1 Samuel 15:23 niv

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

1 Samuel 15:23 esv

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."

1 Samuel 15:23 nlt

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 23 Meaning

This verse powerfully conveys that God values absolute obedience over partial obedience or outward religious acts, such as sacrifices. It equates Saul's rebellion and stubbornness against God's explicit command with severe sins like witchcraft and idolatry, indicating that defying God's revealed will stems from a heart condition akin to these abominations. The immediate consequence of Saul's rejection of God's word is God's reciprocal rejection of him as king.

1 Samuel 15 23 Context

First Samuel Chapter 15 records God's explicit command through the prophet Samuel to King Saul: to utterly destroy the Amalekites as retribution for their historical enmity against Israel, specifically for attacking the Israelites from behind when they were weak after leaving Egypt (Exod 17:8-16, Deut 25:17-19). This was a divine judgment and an act of herem (devotion to destruction). Saul partially obeyed, defeating the Amalekites but sparing their king, Agag, and the best of their sheep and oxen. When confronted by Samuel, Saul claimed he saved the animals to sacrifice them to the Lord, shifting blame to the people. Samuel's words in verse 22-23, particularly verse 23, serve as God's severe judgment, declaring Saul's action as an act of profound rebellion and stating the direct consequence: the rejection of Saul's kingship by God. This encounter marks a critical turning point, sealing Saul's downfall and paving the way for David's anointing.

1 Samuel 15 23 Word analysis

• For: (כִּי - ki) A connective particle indicating the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, specifically for why obedience is better than sacrifice (v. 22).
• rebellion: (מֶרִי - meri) Hebrew for defiance, revolt, insubordination. It signifies an active uprising against authority. In this context, it is against divine authority, directly defying God's explicit command.
• is as: This comparative phrase highlights an equivalence. It's not that rebellion is literally witchcraft, but that its essence and spiritual effect are like or as bad as the forbidden act. It emphasizes the profound spiritual transgression.
• the sin of witchcraft: (קֶסֶם - qesem) Refers to divination, sorcery, enchantment, seeking guidance or power from spiritual sources other than God. In the Old Testament, this was a severe abomination punishable by death, because it implied a distrust of God's counsel and a reliance on forbidden spiritual powers, placing them above or alongside God. The comparison equates rejecting God's direct command with seeking an alternative source of guidance or power, bypassing God entirely.
• and: A conjunction, linking rebellion to stubbornness and their respective comparisons.
• stubbornness: (פָּצַר - patzar) Often linked to the root of insistence, obstinacy, a hardened resistance to correction or yielding. It speaks of an unbending will that refuses to submit. It's a deep-seated resistance to God's direction, preferring one's own way.
• is as: Again, the comparative linking stubbornness to an equivalent spiritual gravity.
• iniquity: (אָוֶן - awen) Hebrew for wickedness, evil, mischief, ungodliness, vanity. It suggests moral perversion and spiritual emptiness. It emphasizes the active evil nature of stubbornness.
• and idolatry: (תְּרָפִים - teraphim) Refers to household gods or cultic images, often used for divination. This comparison indicates that when one clings to one's own will (stubbornness) instead of obeying God, it is tantamount to worshiping something other than God—in this case, one's own desire or wisdom. It's making an idol of self-will, just as pagans worship physical idols.
• Because you have rejected: (מָאַסְתָּה - ma'ashta) A direct statement of the reason. Ma'as means to reject, despise, scorn, loathe. It implies an act of looking down upon or treating something as worthless. Saul's action was not a mistake but an active despising of God's instruction.
• the word of the Lord: This refers specifically to God's direct and unambiguous command delivered through Samuel regarding Amalek. It underscores the divine origin and authority of the command.
• He has also rejected you: God's reciprocal action. Saul rejected God's word, and God rejected Saul from his position of authority. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His word, implying consequences for disobedience, especially for leaders.
• from being king: This specifies the sphere of Saul's rejection—his leadership role, indicating that God's covenant with Saul for his reign was broken due to this grave disobedience.

• "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft": This phrase dramatically highlights that defying God's clear command (rebellion) shares the same root spiritual error as divination. Both involve distrusting God's perfect counsel and seeking an alternative source of power, guidance, or authority—be it one's own will or occultic practices—instead of God's. This elevates a disposition of the heart to the level of overt paganism.
• "and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry": This reinforces the prior statement by connecting deep-seated obstinacy to active evil and the worship of false gods. Stubbornness, in refusing to bend to God's will, effectively dethrones God and installs one's own desires or perceptions as the supreme authority, making it a form of spiritual idolatry.
• "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.": This concluding statement is a cause-and-effect pronouncement. Saul's intentional, willful rejection of God's clear instructions directly led to God's rejection of his kingship. This illustrates the principle of reciprocity in divine judgment and the irreversible consequences of significant disobedience, particularly for those in positions of spiritual authority. God does not permit His word to be casually dismissed.

1 Samuel 15 23 Bonus section

This verse carries significant weight for understanding the nature of sin from God's perspective. It highlights that sin is not merely breaking a rule but often stems from a heart condition that challenges God's sovereignty. The comparisons to witchcraft and idolatry are not hyperbole; they reveal that defiant self-will can be as offensive to God as overt worship of false gods or seeking power from demonic sources. Both deny God His rightful place and His supreme authority in a person's life. This verse serves as a sober reminder that obedience flows from faith and love for God, while rebellion and stubbornness indicate a deep spiritual alienation. For leaders, it emphasizes the particularly grave consequences of their disobedience, as their actions have broader implications for those they lead.

1 Samuel 15 23 Commentary

Samuel's pronouncement in 1 Samuel 15:23 unveils a profound theological truth: God prioritizes heartfelt obedience over outward religious observance. Saul's act of sparing Agag and the best of the plunder, though couched under the guise of offering sacrifice, revealed a heart of rebellion and stubbornness. Such an attitude is equated with the severe sins of witchcraft and idolatry because all three signify a profound lack of trust in God, a turning away from His absolute authority, and a preference for one's own will or other perceived sources of power. Rebellion usurps God's place, akin to witchcraft seeking other spirits. Stubbornness in the face of God's clear word amounts to idolizing one's own desires, rather than submitting to the Divine will. This disobedience was not a trivial oversight but a fundamental rejection of the very word and authority of God Himself, leading directly to Saul's removal from kingship by divine decree. The spiritual attitude behind the action was deemed as offensive as any overt pagan worship, marking Saul's ultimate unsuitability for leading God's people.